Table leg construction



y 22, 1952 H. J. KAUFMAN TABLE LEG CONSTRUCTION Filed Ja n. 11, 1951 Gttomeg #4275 f/fmymazg Patented July 22, 1952 TABLE LEG CONSTRUCTION Hans J. Kaufman, Allegany, N. Y., assignor to Daystrom Corporation, Olean, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 11, 1951, Serial No. 205,514

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in tables and more particularly to the supporting structure thereof.

In its present form the invention discloses a split or extension top table that is supported upon and secured to tubular rails having integral depending legs. The legs are braced against appreciable flexing in any direction with respect to the top through the use of wish-bone like bracing.

In the manufacture of light weight general utility tables, such as used in dining rooms, kitchens and restaurants, it has been the effort of manufacturers to produce a table of such weight and proportions as to permit convenient placement, adjustment, and general disposition by a user. Many tables of this type have heretofore been offered to the public, but the very fact that such tables were light weight rendered them unsteady in the sense that there was always considerable flexing of legs, supports, or even other parts. Tubular supports or frames for tables, although of trim proportions and light weight, have been somewhat unsuitable and generally did not provide necessary rigidity under ordinary conditions of use. In connection with this classification of tables, it will be understood that tables of the more ornamental type, not intended to receive or sustain any appreciable weight in use, are not within the category to which the present invention relates.

It is a purpose and object of the present invention to provide a light weight table that is sufficiently sturdy and rugged to stand up under all usual conditions of use.

It is another object of the invention to provide a table that, by reason of its simple structure, eliminates a considerable amount of the objectionable under supports and thus provides adequate leg room for a user.

A further object of the invention lies in theation of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing; and inwhich Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an extension table having supporting structure embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing the arrangement of combined leg and rails, and bracing therefor;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the table supporting structure, a portion thereof being sectioned to disclose means for securing the supporting rails to the table top;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing a detailed section of the manner of securing the wish-bone brace to the legs; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral I0 is employed to generally designate an extension type table in which the supporting structure, forming the invention, is embodied. It will be understood that the dis closure of an extension type table in nowise limits the invention, since the supporting structure hereinafter described is equally applicable to a solid top table and would consist of an even lesser number of parts in such use. In the present disclosure, the top consists of two panels H and 12. For the purpose of providing a trim appearance, the exposed margins of the panels H and I2 are each formed with a depending lip. Secured to the under face of the panel, in abutment with the inner edge of the lip, is a strip-like filler l4 that is of a length substantially as suggested by the dotted line in Fig. 4. This filler does not quite equal the depth of lip in order that the meeting edges of the top supporting tubular rails, hereinafter described, may be properly concealed. The top panels H and II are connected and rendered extendable in any suitable manner, as by sets of conventional table extension slides l 6.

The panels H and I 2 are mounted on identical supporting units and, consequently, only one such unit will be described in detail. A tubular rail I1 is joined to the under face of each side of the panel. This member terminates flush with the panels inner end and is secured to the filler M and panel by two or more screws [8, the heads [9 of which are countersunk into the under face of the tube to provide a smooth and finished aD- pearance. In Fig. 6, it will be noted that the meeting surfaces of the rail l1 and filler M are concealed by the lip of the panel. Somewhat beyond the lengthwise center of the Panel, the rail is formed with a curved portion 21 which continues downwardly at an incline to form le 22. The end 23 of the leg is within the lengthwise and lateral limits of the panel and therefore does not constitute any obstructing projection when the table is in use. Inasmuch as the legs 22 are of comparatively light weight, tubing, it is evident that without bracing they would be relatively weak. In the present disclosure, a wish-bone like brace 24 is provided. The central portion or bow 26 of the brace is secured by a screw 27 to the under surface of the panel. The arms 28 of the brace extend at at angle inwardly of the panel end and terminate in straightened end portions 29. Each of the legs 22, just beneath the curved portion 21, is formed with an opening 9'1 of a diameter to receive the brace end 29. The end 29 projects well into the interior of the leg and is internally threaded to receive the end of a screw 32 that projects into the leg from the opposite face thereof. The screw 32 is countersunk in order that it may present a trim and smooth finish to this structural part. After mounting the top panel on a pair of rails H and securing the brace 25 to said top, with the ends thereof projecting into the legs 22, screws 32 are turned down to draw the legs slightly inwardly and the brace provides a rigid interconnection between a corresponding pair of legs and the panel. The brace is so designed that it prevents flexing through the curved portions 2| and also prevents lateral flexing as between the legs 22 through the angular arrangement of arms 28 and attachment of the bend to the panel. words, such rigidity is established between panel, rails and legs that a table so constructed is sufficiently impervious to undesirable flexing as to render it highly satisfactory for use under substantially all circumstances.

As the invention is disclosed with an extension top table, the drawing shows the means of providing an intermediate leaf 33. The ends of this leaf are formed with depending lips proportioned to be in the plane of the panel lips. Also, a short filler member, such as the member 14, is attached to the under face of the leaf adjacent the end lip. Secured to the filler is a short tubular section 34. When the leaf is placed on the slides l6 that are exposed between the inner ends of panels H and E2, the top surface will of course be in the plane of the panels II and I2 and the ends of the leaf will form a continuation of the panel side edges and the tubularsupporting rails l1.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the present invention is shown in connection with an extension table and therefore each top panel supporting structure consists of three parts; namely, a combined rail and leg 11, 22, and one wish-bone like brace 24. Thus, the entire supporting structure involves'only six tubular parts, four of which are identical. The other two -partsnamely, braces 2 i-are also identical. This construction, as already mentioned, greatly reduces manufacturing costs and thereby reduces In other 3 the cost to consumers. Similarly, this type of supporting structure for a solid or single panel top enables reduced manufacturing expense as it is only necessary to provide two single rails, the ends of which are bent to form the legs, together with two wish-bone like braces.

Although applicant has shown and described only one modification of his invention, it will be apparent that the rail and leg construction, in conjunction with the wish-bone like leg brace, may be varied to be adapted to other types of tables than that shown and described, and that such modification is contemplated as being within the spirit and scope of the invention insofar as it is set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In a table having a top panel, a supportin structure comprising a pair of tubular rails extending along and being secured to the under side edges of said panel, inclined legs integral with corresponding ends of said rails, a brace for said legs, the central portion of said brace being secured to a central part of the under face of said panel, ends on said brace engaged with said legs adjacent the juncture of rail and leg, and means carried by said brace ends for placing said legs under sidewise tension.

2. In a table having a top panel with depending side marginal edges, a supporting structure comprising a pair of tubular rails secured to the under part of said panel adjacent said marginal edges, corresponding portions of said rails being curved away from said panel and continuing in legs inclined in the direction of the length of said table, a wish-bone like brace secured along the bow portion thereof to the under face of said panel adjacent an end thereof, divergent arms of said brace being inclined away from said panel, ends on said arms projecting into apertures in said legs, said apertures being below said curved portions, and means for drawing said'ends into said legs to an extent to create and secure said legs under sidewise tension.

HANS J. KAUFIMAN.

REFERENCES CTTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,353,660 Main Sept. 21, 1920 1,697,550 Amaducci Jan. 1, 1921 1,766,085 Rumer June 24, 1930 1,816,247 Blickman et .al July 28, 1931 2,016,850 Bitterman Oct. 8, 1935 2,022,714 Gal-lur Dec. 3, 1935 2,109,869 Ross Mar. 1, 1938 2,467,080 Duer Apr. 12, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 365,852 Great Britain Jan. 28, 1932 608,641 Germany Mar. 16, 1933 

